Union members around the world showed solidarity with the workers of Australian airline Qantas, who are in an ongoing dispute over outsourcing, job security and pay, by staging protests and picketing action on ITF-coordinated Qantas Action Day - 16 November 2011.
Union members gathered outside the Australian High Commission in London - watch the action unfold in the film above.
Members of the Hong Kong Flight Attendants Alliance (HKFAA) staged a protest outside the Qantas Office in Hong Kong resulting in major local media coverage.
The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) picketed the Qantas office and Australian embassy in Makati City.
Workers in Japan staged action at Narita international airport. Click here to watch the youtube video.
Workers in Argentina handed out stickers and pamphlets at Buenos Aires airport as a Qantas flight departed.
Background
What’s the dispute about? Qantas workers, represented by ITF affiliates including the Transport Workers Union (TWU), Australian & International Pilots' Association (AIPA) and Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers' Association, have been pushing for guarantees on quality jobs, job security and fair wages while Qantas is potentially looking to cut labour costs by outsourcing overseas.
What’s the latest? On 29 October Qantas launched an attack on its own workforce. Workers were locked out causing untold distress and disruption to them, their families and hundreds of thousands of airline customers.
What happens now? A 21-day period was set by national industrial tribunal, Fair Work Australia on 30 October, for an agreement to be negotiated. If that doesn’t happen the tribunal will step in to launch compulsory arbitration.
Find out more about the Qantas dispute on the Qantas Families website www.qantasfamilies.com
Hundreds of people are already talking about the Qantas Families campaign, join them on facebook.
Click here for more on the background to the Qantas dispute.
Take action! Support Qantas workers and their families
In partnership with the unions involved, the ITF is calling on affiliates to show their support for Qantas workers by staging action at Qantas offices and airports where the airline operates.
You can…
Organise your own rally / demo or leafleting action outside a Qantas office or at a Qantas serviced airport. Find out where your nearest Qantas office is here >> Many unions are ready for solidarity action, find out more here >>
Let your members / colleagues know about what’s happening. Email them this link or print out and distribute leaflets from the additional resources section below.
Send your messages of support for Qantas workers and their families to the ITF civil aviation section civilaviation@itf.org.uk. You can also use this address to let campaign organisors know about the solidarity action you're planning.
Download, distribute and use the campaign luggage tags when you travel. Find them in the additional resources section below.
Keep checking this page for updates: more action coming soon!
Unions around the world are already acting in solidarity with Qantas workers and their families.
31st October: The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) picketed the Qantas office and Australian embassy.
1st November: Teamsters union hold solidarity action in Los Angeles, USA.
View messages of support from aviation workers here>>
Protests were staged worldwide on Qantas Action day, November 16. Go to the top of the page for details.
Additional resources
Download ‘We support Qantas families’ leaflet here >>
Download ‘We support Qantas families’ banner here >>
